Buhari Summons IGP, Demands Explanation Over Benue Controversy

President Muhammadu Buhari has summoned and met with the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, over his reported failure to follow the President’s directive after the killings in Benue.

The President met with the IGP on Tuesday morning, a day after Benue leaders told him that the IGP did not comply with his directive to relocate to Benue over the killings by suspected herdsmen.

They informed him that while the IGP visited the state after his directive, he spent less than a day there before relocating to Nasarawa where he spent more time.

President Buhari, however, told them he did not know that the IGP disobeyed his directive and was only hearing about it.

The President who said he remained loyal to the people under him, told Benue leaders that rather than just condemning the IGP, he would prefer to seek an explanation from him.

After his return to Abuja, he summoned the IGP. It was gathered that the IGP was the first caller to the Presidential Villa on Tuesday and that he met in private with the President for about 30 minutes before leaving.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, confirmed the visit but declined giving details.

President Buhari had on January 9 ordered the IGP to relocate to Benue, eight days after suspected herdsmen attacked parts of the state and killed 73 people.

The attacks displaced hundreds, led to tension on the Benue-Nasarawa border, and outcry by the Benue people and others worried about the prolonged herdsmen-farmers conflict.

Days after the President’s directive, the Benue State Government accused the IGP of bias and of flouting the order.

This led to a war of words between the state government and the Police with Governor Samuel Ortom calling on the IGP to resign.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh Moshood, in reaction asked the governor to resign and described him as a drowning man, an action condemned by the Senate.

The Senate called for the removal of Mr Moshood and asked President Buhari to replace the IGP with a more competent person.